#woooo!!!!!

And so, that evening…

After I got home and had some snacks, I happened to glance at the TV that the Robo-Mama had needlessly put on for me.

"PatiBattle? Are patissiers going to battle…?"

I had time to kill, so it was really just by accident that I happened to see the anime that was airing on the TV.

"…Huh?"

I couldn't take my eyes off the screen.

"Wow, this looks cool…"

I'd discovered something.

"This is crazy…!"

I had… discovered something amazing. PatiBattle. Chiyoda Reito. It was like I'd been crossed by fate and destiny.

"…"

I watched in rapt silence. Something felt like it was clicking into place inside of me. PatiBattle was everything that I desired from the bottom of my heart: a story packed full of excitement, youth, and friendship. My heart couldn't stop pounding in pure excitement.

Before my eyes, colour returned to the ashen grey remains of my world after the fire had incinerated everything. "Aah…"

Seeing the protagonist and his rival compete against each other, and then exchanging praises and hugging each other after a good match brought me almost to the point of tears. Suddenly, I remembered what Muu-chan had told me earlier.

"I'd like to give you a hug."

It was then that I realised… I'd thought that I'd hated everything in the world― but there was still one thing I loved dearly: Muu-chan. I'd regained one thing that I loved.

"…"

In the blink of an eye, the credits were already rolling. The original author's name was shown in the credits, so I supposed it must have originally been a manga. Following my curiosity, I found myself ordering the volumes online before I could think better. While I was madly typing away on my phone, Robo-Mama aimlessly peered at my screen.

"…Hey." "…" "Recently, you've been turning on the lights while you do chores, and you turn on the TV now, too." "…, …" "Are you… looking out for me?"

"This is just between you and me, but… I don't really hate you that much." "…" "Do you want me to try and get you a part that lets you talk? If there even are mouthpieces that can be installed onto older models…" "…"

At that point in time, it was natural that Robo-Mama couldn't talk. All she could do was blink her sensor eye. Besides, her barrel-like cylindrical model meant that she didn't even have a neck, but…

"…"

…But it really did seem like she was nodding in reply.

"Okay, got it." I thought, maybe I could ask someone at the robotics factory nearby.

"Maybe I could try making sweets, too."

Not only did I regain something I loved that day, I had also found new things to love. I started to think things like I could try this, or I could try that.

"Since this Reito guy seems cool and he's good with chocolate… let's try making chocolate desserts."

I was able to meet Reito, the character who I love above all others. I was able to find the ultimate hobby in baking sweets. And all of it is thanks to PatiBattle.

"…Every time I look at him, my chest feels fluttery… What could that mean…?"

…That was the sort of childhood I had.

---

I was back in my room, decked to the nines with all of the nuis and merch that I could never put in my dorm room. As I closed my copy of Shounen Dive, I let myself sink into a million fantasies.

"It's still so good no matter how many times I read it… Even though I got spoiled by those annoying idiots, it didn't take away all the fun…! Besides, Reito and Minoru partnering up really is a genius move for the story! Even though Ouji will definitely get jealous…"

The freshly made fondant au chocolat resting on the table beside me was giving off a wonderful aroma. I had taste-tested some crumbs earlier, so naturally, I was quite pleased with the fact that I had made such exquisite sweets. Tomorrow, I'll give some to Muu-chan and his sister.[1] I couldn't wait to see their happy faces.

Just like that, my bad day from overhearing those spoilers had turned into a wonderful day, thanks to my daily sweets-making.

"I've got high hopes for all the fanfiction writers… May there be tons of fic about Reito gently consoling a depressed, jealous Ouji…"

Honestly, I prefer spicy food, and I don't like sweet foods that much at all. But I still want to keep baking sweets.

"Aah… I can't wait for Sanseiu-sensei's newest work…! I hate the crowds at conventions, but if I could meet them and shake their hand… or not. At the very least, I've got to give them sweets as a gift…"

Even despite everything, I want to be able to touch, too. I want to be able to hug someone else, and be hugged by them back… …But I can't do that.

"Now then, time to see what new posts there are today… Ugh, there's already ReiMino here? And… blocked."

Instead, I'll make the most delicious, satisfyingly sweet desserts so that one day, I can give them to the people I care about.

"What? They're rerunning that pair tapestry from last time!? And you can't even pre-order? It's like they want to see a fucking bloodbath out here!"

If they like my desserts, then it'll be like touching their hearts instead. Isn't that already the same as a hug?

"Crane game limited nuis… Alright, guess I'll have to just rescue each and every Reito from the grasp of those claws."

That's why I'll keep making the sweetest, most delicious chocolates.

A few hours later, I wrapped up the fondant au chocolat and stuck a sticky note on it with instructions: Just heat it up in the microwave when you want to eat it.

Now that my work was done, I decided to return for PatiBattle seconds, but just as I settled in, something flashed before my eyes.

"Huh? What?"

Right before my eyes…

[ PatiBattle! Hiatus Announcement ]

…A sentence straight from the depths of Hell.

"Huh…? Huh? Hah??"

The sound of every single cell in my body simultaneously being annihilated echoed in my ears.

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[1] Ushio specifies Muneuji and 姫 hime, which means 'princess'. Muneuji calls his little sister by this nickname, so it's very likely that Ushio is referring to her!

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